A grassroots revolt against the government's business rates policy has spread from pubs to the high street, with hairdressers and barbers now banning local Labour MPs from their premises.
From Pints to Haircuts: A Growing High Street Boycott
Following the lead of more than 1,000 publicans, salon owners are taking a stand against what they label a "betrayal" by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The backlash stems from last month's Budget, where measures aimed at helping smaller businesses were deemed grossly insufficient.
Firms were left furious after the Chancellor outlined plans to fund support for smaller properties by increasing taxes on larger ones, a move intended to "level the playing field between the high street and online giants." However, the resulting relief for small businesses amounted to just a 5p discount on the multiplier used to calculate their final bill—far short of the 20p reduction they had pleaded for.
'Desperate and Hanging on by a Thread'
For many independent salon owners, this minimal discount is completely wiped out by simultaneous increases to their rateable values. Collette Osborne, who runs two Hairven salons in Nottinghamshire, has erected a 'No Labour MPs' sign on her door.
"I am furious that the Government now seem to have their fingers in their ears," said Ms Osborne, who faces an annual business rates increase of over £10,000. Her local Labour MPs are Juliet Campbell and Michael Payne.
"[Ms Reeves] promised she would act to protect small businesses and high street salons," she explained. "There is no spare capacity to absorb business rate increases on top of rising wages, utilities, finance costs and Covid debt repayments. So no Labour MPs are allowed."
Industry Warns of Impending Closures
The sentiment is echoed across the sector. Emma Vickery, a London-based hairdresser, stated she had supported public finances for nearly four decades but that running a small business was becoming "financially unsustainable."
"Without urgent support or recognition of the challenges faced by small employers, businesses like mine will disappear," she warned.
Toby Dicker of the Salon Employers' Association said members felt "betrayed" by a Labour government they expected to support them. "Our members are all decent, hard-working, kind people – the people who would expect a Labour government, who triumphantly said they would 'make work pay', to support them for being the backbone of the high street," he said.
Tory business spokesman Andrew Griffith seized on the discontent: "This government won't listen to small businesses so it's no wonder that salons have joined pubs in banning their Labour MP. Perhaps if they feel just a fraction of the misery that they are inflicting on Britain's high streets, things will change."
A Labour source defended the policy, highlighting the £4.3 billion support package announced at the Budget. "The Government is backing high street businesses across the country, including hairdressers and salons," the source said.
